Ms. Naughton, a part-time college professor who devotes one day a week to caring for stray cats, is a little-known Democrat who has never before sought public office.

Frelinghuysen won in 2006 by 62% to 37% for a little-known Democrat named Tom Wyka.

Murphy was reelected in 2006 with 58% of the vote against a little-known Democrat.

As was expected, Ted Stevens, the state's senior senator, trounced Frank Vondersaar, a little-known Democrat.

Mr. Gephardt, who abandoned his candidacy for the Presidential nomination just in time to file for re-election, piled up 82 percent of the vote against three little-known Democrats.

Six little-known Democrats were contending for the right to challenge Mr, Simpson.

Mr. Gephardt, who gave up his effort to win the Presidential nomination just before the deadline to file for re-election, won 82 percent of the vote against three little-known Democrats.

Beasley, a popular Republican governor in a thriving Republican state, lost to a little-known, uncharismatic Democrat.

She singled out for special criticism Edwina Dalton, who was upset by a little-known Democrat, Don Beyer, in the race for lieutenant governor in Virginia.

But so many television crews showed up to quench the state's growing thirst for information about this little-known Democrat that the candidate had to make the tour twice.